There are two styles of riding, Western and English.
English riding requires a shorter and lighter saddle, Western riding requires a bigger heavier and longer saddle. The difference in riding English Western is that an English rider uses the reins that pull the mouth to change the direction and a western rider uses a rein on the horses neck to change direction.
Also Western saddles are made with a saddle horn that makes it easier to get on the horse.
The first step to horseback riding is to purchase or rent the right clothing.
This includes a helmet, pants, boots, a short or long sleeve shirt, and gloves.
Next you will need a saddle for the horse, and last but not least, you will need a horse.
Western horseback riding lessons can cost anywhere from $20 an hour to $100 an hour.
Taking group lessons tend to be less expensive than private lessons and in group lessons you are able to learn from the others mistakes.
In order to horseback ride the fear of falling off or even the fear of the horse itself has to be eliminated.
When falling off of a horse it is important not to try and catch yourself but to try and curl your body up into a ball because if you stick your arms out and try to catch yourself it will most likely result in a broken arm.
Horseback Riding by Shannon Donnelly
Works Cited